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TMA Severe Weather Policy

Even though we are not an APS school, we follow APS for severe weather delays and cancellations. To find out if TMA classes are delayed or canceled, simply watch a local television station or listen to the radio. If APS has a delay, our classes will begin 2 hours past the normal time.  This means students will start at 10:45 am (drop-off starting at 10:20 am). If APS cancels school for the day, we will also cancel school for the day. Please note that APS differentiates schools as "Mountain Schools" and "APS schools." We do not follow the mountain school delays or cancellations. If school is delayed or canceled before school care is also canceled.  If school is canceled during the school day, After Care will also be canceled. In addition, please be sure to dress your child warmly; it gets cold on our playground.

 

Volunteering

To get started volunteering at TMA,  you will need to complete a volunteer application and send it to Ms. Amanda at ahagerty@tmesnm.com. Once received, you will need to complete a background check through the FBI.  Please see the Volunteer Process page for detailed instructions on how to complete a background check to volunteer at our school.

 

Medication

Beginning this school year, our medication policies had to change based on the NM Department of Health and the NM Public Education Department regulations. 

ALL medications (prescription and over-the-counter must have a doctor/provider order for TMA staff to administer the medication at school or on field trips. 

If your child needs medication at school, please ensure your medical provider completes the documents before the first day of school. You can find the various forms here: Medication Reference Sheet.

 

Dress Code

The TMA/Casita dress code is intended to create a safe, distraction-free, non-competitive, commercial-free school atmosphere.  In addition, the student attire described will facilitate comfort and ease of movement for students while completing school assignments that can vary from outside activities to laying or sitting on the classroom floor. Student dress and grooming is to reflect high standards of personal conduct so that each student’s attire promotes a positive, safe, and healthy atmosphere within the school.
 

For our complete TMA Dress Code, see the TMA Parent-Student Handbook.

Absence Notification

If your child is absent for any reason, please notify the school of your child’s absence and the reason for the absence. We kindly request that you please email attendance@tmesnm.com or through your Infinite Campus parent portal.  Please include your full name, your child’s full name, the dates they are out, and the reason they are out.

Contagious Illnesses

When you have verification of the fact that your child has a communicable disease, please call the school immediately so that we can inform other parents. Because school children are easily susceptible to communicable diseases, the school reserves the right to make a judgment concerning the child’s ability to participate in daily school activities. Please do not send your child to school when he/she is ill. We send sick children home!

Symptoms– The following is a list of symptoms to guide you in deciding whether your child should be sent to school. Please do not send your child to school on days when any of the following symptoms are present:

  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Cough
  • Discharge of discolored or profuse amounts of mucus from the nose
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Sore throat
  • Headache, body aches, general flu symptoms

If the children show any of the above symptoms, they are separated from the other children and allowed to rest. Parents are contacted to appraise the situation and determine what action is to be taken. If parents cannot be reached, then emergency numbers are called.

Mandatory School Attendance

TMA and students who attend our school are expected to perform to their highest potential. Importantly, achieving rigorous academic goals for all our students is a measure used when assessing TMA’s performance under our Charter Contract. On time, daily attendance is a critical component in meeting these high standards. The Attendance for Success Act requires that: 

  • Students between the ages of five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age attend school, and parents are legally responsible for ensuring their children attend school daily unless the student has an excused absence as defined below.
  • TMA enforces the Attendance for Success Act, including reporting excessively absent students to the Children’s Court Liaison office and to the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Excused Absences

In accordance with the Attendance for Success Act, a student who is five years and older may have an absence excused for any portion of the school day under the following conditions:

  • Death in the immediate family.
  • Illness of the student. A physician’s certificate may be required from the parent/guardian of a student continuously absent for illness.
  • Hazardous weather conditions - weather conditions which would endanger the health or safety of the student when in transit to and from school.
  • Observance of a religious holiday, religious instruction, or tribal obligations
  • State of emergency declared by the Governor.
  • Educational support – as structured in collaboration with the Lead Guide - such as PT, OT, etc.
  • Other emergency or set of circumstances which, in the judgment of the Administration, constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence from school.